Orchestra

Barrington 220 believes quality music education serves to educate the whole student, and is an integral part of development.

Through participation in the Barrington High School Orchestra Program, students will develop lifelong skills such as self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-management,  perseverance, and social awareness, while simultaneously fostering creativity, critical thinking, and communication.

All experiences align to the National Core Arts Standards which focus on students actively creating, performing, responding and connecting through music on a daily basis.

Our orchestra program embraces the importance of musical excellence, and approximately 130 student musicians at BHS participate in one of the following orchestra ensembles under the direction of the Orchestra Director: Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, or Varsity Orchestra.  Student musicians have the opportunity to perform in a myriad of community experiences throughout the school year, and to also deepen their musical understanding through field trips, guest artist visits, and other enrichments;
 

Chamber Orchestra

The Chamber Orchestra is comprised of  highly accomplished students who play a stringed instrument and have successfully auditioned into the orchestra. Wind and percussion students wishing to perform with the orchestra must be enrolled in the band and are placed in the orchestra as needed by audition. The focus of this ensemble is to develop and refine students’ musical experiences and technique through performance of masterworks written for string and symphonic orchestra. While focusing on traditional orchestra music, it is the intent of this class to expose students to a wide variety of music from the past and present and from our own and other cultures. Once per week the orchestra is joined by select members of the Symphonic Band for a full orchestra rehearsal. The Chamber Orchestra performs several evening concerts each year that are required for participation. In addition to regular performances at BHS, performance opportunities include ILMEA Honors orchestra, solo/ensemble festival, Fine Arts Musical Pit Orchestra, and performances in the community.

String Orchestra 

The String Orchestra is open to any student grades 10-12, who has experience playing a stringed instrument. The focus of this ensemble is to develop and refine students' musical experiences and technique through performance of music written for the string orchestra. While focusing on traditional orchestra music, it is the intent of this class to expose students to a wide variety of music from the past and present; from our own and other cultures. The String Orchestra performs several evening concerts each year that are required for participation. In addition to regular performances at BHS, performance opportunities include ILMEA Honors orchestra, solo/ensemble festival, Fine Arts Musical Pit Orchestra, and performances in the community.

Varsity Orchestra 

The Varsity Orchestra is open to any 9th grade student who has experience playing a stringed instrument. The focus of this ensemble is to develop and refine students' musical experiences and technique through performance of music written for the string orchestra. While focusing on traditional orchestra music, it is the intent of this class to expose students to a wide variety of music from the past and present; from our own and other cultures. The Varsity Orchestra performs several evening concerts each year that are required for participation. In addition to regular performances at BHS, performance opportunities include IMEA Honors orchestra, solo/ensemble festival, Fine Arts Musical Pit Orchestra, and performances in the community. All incoming 9th grade orchestra students are enrolled in the Varsity Orchestra unless auditioned into the Chamber Orchestra.